When The Lazy Days of Summer...Aren't

Today's blog comes to us from from Amanda Hinman, of Hinman Holistic Health Institute. Enjoy! 
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Ah, the lazy days of summer!

Have you been looking forward to the relaxing mornings of summer?  No morning routine of homework and rushing to get out the door for school, or maybe just knowing you get to leave the house in sandals and a tank top!
I’m in the same place and it feels good to think about having more time to relax and enjoy yourself.

But what happens when two weeks into the summer break you feel frustrated or overwhelmed?  Maybe it’s because you’re tired of breaking up arguments between your kids or responding to complaints about being bored.  Perhaps it’s because the chauffeuring around and unorganized routine doesn’t allow time for you to focus on your business.
I used to say to myself:

“Why is it that even when life is supposed to be easy, there’s always some issue?  Is something wrong with me?

Until I figured out why I always had new problems popping up and how to eliminate them.  

Years ago, I would find myself in exactly this place.  I’d go to a BBQ and see a friend who’d seemed to be so content and at ease enjoying the summer with her family while also telling me about some new project she was excited about, and I’d feel…

Defeated. Frustrated.  And yes…a bit envious.

I was spending my summer either chauffeuring around, breaking up arguments or feeling overwhelmed at work.  

As much as I was glad to be free of the morning routine during the school year, I realized that having organization to our days was helpful in many ways too.

Have you experienced this too?  It’s actually quite normal.

I share exactly why it is that they have experienced ease when perhaps you haven’t, even though life during summer is supposed to be easier.
It comes down to how you use your most precious resource: time
Even more specifically why the first 10 minutes of your morning routine sets the stage for the day ahead.

Each morning provides an opportunity to tune yourself for clarity, ease and appreciation in your day ahead.  Creating a simple habit to connect with yourself and your priorities allows you to set your energy in a place that is beneficial for you and for anyone you interact with.

My favorite way to connect with myself in the morning is through journaling.  For some people it happens during quiet pondering on a morning run or while enjoying a cup of coffee.  

These three things provide focus on clarity for your day.  Ask yourself:

• What do I intend to enjoy today?
• How will I choose to spend my time?
• Who do I appreciate and why?
  
  

Once I began to understand this, I stopped thinking that something was wrong with me, but rather, it was a choice that I could make.  Which I did.
After all, you can’t create different results by continuing to do the same things.

How will you choose to connect with yourself in the morning?  

P.S.  Enjoy time saving strategies for busy moms with my free Vibrant Child Starter Kit here.  

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​Family Health Expert and National Speaker, Amanda Hinman used to feel frustrated, overwhelmed and guilty as a mom – she’s been in your shoes. So she understands what it is like to feel disappointed and even defeated at times trying to raise positive, happy and healthy children. Now, she’s supported hundreds of moms with her proven process to transform from FRUSTRATED and OVERWHELMED to confident and empowered moms with the tools and strategies to solve the stress, and start to ENJOY their most important job: Raising a Vibrant child!